Oops I Did it Again! Or Pop Goes the Kneecap

So I joined the kiddos in a friendly game or five of volley ball.... and let's just say the student liaisons/coordinator's saying of "joven plus" (young and then some), we are of the same general age, no longer really applies for me.  I feel creaky with worn out parts.  So all week long I've been icing and elevating my leg and today we left for a weekend excursion. 4-ish hours on a bus and then probably a 10k walk through out the the town of Zamora left me hobbling.   The snap or "clac" in my knee region I heard has me mildly concerned.  But I'm taking it easy tonight and cranking up the ice, bought some probably icy-hot type gel and going to give my knee a break!

So I missed updating the Recital of the Epic Adventures of Tanya (though keep in mind that it's Friday night and I'm laid up in bed so I don't know if epic is the absolute best word - the fact that it's super comfortable probably doesn't really balance the scales, huh?).  Last week we went to Segovia - my oh my, what a beautiful city... despite weather that would indeed indicate that the rain in Spain falls mainly in the plain... I  would have happily explored it further.  We visited the Alcazar  (castle) - fun fact... 👸Disney modeled Snow White's castle or maybe also influenced Cinderella's - the interwebs differ - after that we also did a walking tour of the 'old town' which I find fascinating. Lovely churches and THE AQUEDUCT - dang, it's an amazing feat of engineering - and while it demonstrates the wonders of Roman construction and was built for utilitarian means, it is a work of art!  So there I was walking around in awe, trying to grasp that these same buildings have been lived in and had businesses conducted within for hundreds of years - it's crazy!  We braved the rain, had a fantastic lunch, grabbed a cuppa after, and then made our way back to Toledo where I took advantage of a free weekend to - you guessed it - study.  Argg regrets are a waste of time... but I probably should have gone to Madrid or Sevilla or done SOMETHING!

Well despite that lapse... I hope you enjoy tbe pics 🤗 I'll catch you up with Zamora in the subsequent post!

Royal bedchamber

That thar is a full sized adult suit of armor... look who's not so short now, eh?!

 Attempt #1 at being artsy

                Artsy attempt 2⤵

 Super creepy eyes... I'm going to have to ask again why that was done that way... don't quite remember at this moment 🤔

 Selfie mode on this bad boy at work!

 By the way... no mortar in this chef d'oeuvre - pure engineering genius!

 Boy was it raining gatos and perros!

There were two camps in our group: Prepared with umbrellas or improvised with trash bags!

Artsy attempt 3⤴

Do you hear the barking?

That would be my feet.

Wow... So this weekend has been pretty awesome. We took an excursion and there's about 50 of us all traveling together... which is really... interesting!? I really AM enjoying being with a lot of these guys and the experience of visiting new cities and regions of Spain... well, I'm loving it!  Though I wish I could have spent more time in Cordoba, but it was only that very brief afternoon. It was beautiful and I must return some time. We arrived Friday and get nearly two days in Grenada.  It is an unbelievably beautiful city and the food is amazing, amazing...  just in case I didn't put enough emphasis on that, the food is amazing! Somehow in a group of 50... I've managed to go off on my own, which is kind of funny because now that I'm actually traveling with other people... the fact that I went off by myself is kind of hilarious.  So yesterday we went to the mosque in Cordoba.  Then when we got to Grenada, we went to see some flamenco dancing last night.  Omg... it was intense! Today, I just got back from a tour at the Alhambra and the palacio. What an incredibly beautiful experience! Afterwards I meandered back to the hotel and bought some souvenirs from a store ran by the artisan that made the products.  I stopped to watch him and talk for a while - it was an amazingly good time!  but... I was stopping for about 2€ of postcards and left with about 85€ of his work! Then off for a 3pm lunch.  I was semi-hijacked by the waitress to eat at her restaurant.  I must say it was the happiest of hijackings!  Sangria, olives, paella, gazpacho,  chicken in a garlic sauce... with perfectly cooked french fries, and watermelon for dessert! So. Full.  Someone's going to have to roll me home now!!  Here are a few collages of my weekend!

Drama Drama Drama

OMG!  This is the second week of class and I just realized that two of my classes count for the same class at UNL!!!!!  And to top it off.... my only class for fall is - you guessed it - that same class!  Son of a....! Well, I guess this is why I had alternates pre-approved.  The good news is that it is a class where we walk around and see what we are learning about - I love that, it´s tactile learning.  But I had to give up a class I was really enjoying!  ¡Que pena!  And for the fall, well... after all, tomorrow is another day.  I´ll find a suitible solution later.  So I am going out of order since I haven´t gotten around to writing about my weekend and exciting excursion to Madrid.  I´ll get to that, but first I have to get to class!  ¡Hasta luego peeps!  (that´s spanish for see you later alligator -- I think!)

Early Morning Dora the Explora

I've walked around much of the casco (the helmut) of Toledo... saw pretty vistas and a beautiful yet cloudy sunrise.  I also, by accident, found a market in the park that only happens on Tuesdays.  It's been quite an adventure so far... I'm feeling better, but still not sleeping well.  Fingers crossed that I adjust soon!

My super-cool travel journal suggest that I cop-a-squat somewhere and take a bit of time to observe people... which direction they're headed, how quickly, what colors or styles are prevalent, etc

I noticed that stripes and plaids were out in force and took a few pictures to commemorate it! Oh and I enoyed some churros y chocolate while doing so!

Leisure Sickness is a Real Thing!

And I'm currently "enjoying" the experience.  I hadn't planned on posting everyday... but I also hadn't planned on the reason being that I'd have very little to post being stuck in a tiny room without air conditioning for 3 days.  I decided that the best thing to do was rest and do nothing my first weekend here, despite the utter disgust that engenders.   I did manage to do a little exploring and go out for a drink with two new friends - I tried the more common local choice instead of sangria... tinto de verano.  I may make that my drink of choice here!

I'm getting better, I'm getting better, I'm getting better... Isn't that how the story goes?

Veni Vidi Dormivi

Have hat, will travel - check.  Don't have luggage though.  Bummer... But since I have plenty of clothes in my carry on... That's not really a big deal, but I would like the toiletries that are in my suitcase that didn't make the trip.  Boo.  Despite the fact that I've gotten maybe 10 hours of sleep in the last 3 days, I am surprisingly at a high level of IDGAF.  So life is good, I arrived safely and it's a beautiful day!

So we arrived at the Fundación, which was once upon a time, a convent.  I understand now why they call the individual rooms "cells" lol! We had lunch and a brief tour of the building.  Between the heat and my extreme fatigue, I had to take a brief rest... That turned into a multi hour nap.  A little disappointed in myself since there is a big festival going on in Toledo, and what a great opportunity to explore... But sleep won out - hence the title "I Came, I Saw, I Slept".

Leaving on a Jet Plane

This. Is. Happening!

Hurry up and wait... Do you love getting to the airport 3 hours early too? I am definitely spoiled by TSAPrecheck... I can show up 45 minutes before my flight if I do carry-on.  But I don't really know what to do with myself right now!  Maybe I should try and figure out how to work my camera.  Wow. That was a lightbulb moment.  So... I guess hold on while I make the attempt!

HA! I'm not a complete technological troglodyte after all!  Check out my packing extraordinaire!

The first photo is the pile of clothes I started with.  The second is (with minor adjustments) the finished product.  And the 3rd is what (for the most part) I packed.  The 4th.... Well, I only claimed to not be a COMPLETE technological troglodyte!

7 Weeks in Spain Eve

Holy hot dog batman! It's really happening... I'm headed to Spain tomorrow.   I'm not sure I really allowed myself to think too deeply about the reality of it, but there's no denying it.  Tomorrow I'm leaving on a jet plane!

I'm packed,  but I haven't gotten on the road yet.  It's not looking good  that it will be within the hour either.  I'm currently "indulging" in a mani/pedi. But since I am too passive aggressive to tell the nail tec that his massage hurts... well it's my own fault then, isn't it, that this isn't the luxurious relaxation it should be?!

I have three more stops after my spa experience... I have to renew the creatures' licenses - totally dropped that ball. Pick up the three food items I forgot to take care of before I left... don't want to come home to all that spoiled ickiness. And then get Miss Spoiled Lulu from doggie daycare.  Then six plus hours to Minneapolis where I'm flying out of.

I have some pictures of my packing spectacle.   As soon as I figure out how to wirelessly upload it from my new fancy-dansy camera... I'll add that here!

Ok... well, since I have a couple more minutes to chill before my journey actually begins... I'm going to do some of that relaxing thing I hear so much about! 😉